No. 1 seed Alabama opened up the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional against No. 4 seed USC Upstate on Friday, securing an 8-0 shutout run rule victory.
This is only the Spartans’ second time suffering a shutout loss this season. The first came against Presbyterian earlier in May during the regular season, where USC Upstate lost 3-0, making this its biggest shutout loss of the season.
Alabama has made shutouts a season staple this year, shutting out 23 teams across 50 wins so far.
Freshman Kaitlyn Pallozzi dominated in the circle for Alabama, allowing only 4 hits across 5 innings.
“She’s very even-keeled and doesn’t get too high or too low at any time,” head coach Patrick Murphy said of Pallozzi. “Anytime you can throw a shot out, I don’t care who it’s against and in a game like this, I’ll take it all day long.”
Both teams came out of the first runless before catcher Marlie Giles cracked the game open in the second with a home run just over the right field wall.
“Once Marlie hit that home run, the floodgates opened,” infielder Audrey Vandagriff said.
After Giles’ home run, Alabama just did not stop. With 2 outs on the board, center fielder Kristen White brought home Vandagriff after a single to the pitcher.
Following her up, first baseman Brooke Wells singled up the middle with the bases loaded and brought home one to keep the bases full.
Utility player Alexis Pupillo ended the second with a double to left field, bringing in Wells and second baseman Jena Young, increasing Alabama’s run tally to 6.
“As soon as our offense gets going like that, we’ve got it,” Pallozzi said. “Everyone’s doing what they can to win and being a pitcher on the mound and getting mound support, it’s truly great to have.”
While the Crimson Tide continued stacking runs, the Spartans didn’t find themselves as lucky, remaining runless the rest of the game.
“We enjoyed the atmosphere. I don’t think the moment was too big for us. I don’t think that we were nervous or anything like that,” USC Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins said. “We just got to do a better job of executing a little bit.”
In the third, Alabama increased its lead to 7-0 after Vandagriff slammed a home run to left field. Pupillo closed out scoring in the fourth with a single to left field that brought home White.
Alabama will continue play in the Tuscaloosa Regional on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT against the Belmont Bruins. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
Hence then, the article about alabama softball shuts out usc upstate 8 0 in ncaa tournament opener was published today ( ) and is available on The Crimson White ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Alabama softball shuts out USC Upstate 8-0 in NCAA tournament opener )
Also on site :
- Potato futures are soaring – should the world be worried?
- Starbucks to Cut 300 Jobs— Here's How to Handle a Layoff According to a Pro
- Shakira Makes Announcement on Official World Cup Song